The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart | CST

by Cecilia Ehlenbach

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The Chicago Shakespeare Theater has been home to some pretty interesting productions over the years and if you’re into innovative, international and emotionally gripping theater, then you’re in for a real treat with The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. The play, which mixes music, song, folklore, and dance into its story, is being presented by the National Theatre of Scotland for a limited three-week run at Navy Pier, opening on September 26.

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart tells the terrible tale of the play’s namesake, a woman who has devoted her life to the study of folk songs. She spends an evening at a local pub and hears rumors of a song referred to as the “original song,” the “song beyond all songs,” the “song of undoing,” and decides she must find it.

The audience joins Prudencia on her quest as she journeys through fantastic and supernatural realms in pursuit of the song and the keeper of the song, the Devil himself. In the end, when she finally discovers the song, it becomes her own undoing.

This 2.5 hour show (with intermission) debuted in 2011 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to sell-out crowds before a Scottish tour. It now comes to Navy Pier for a brief stint as part of its world tour. Expect an intimate and interactive afternoon or evening as the actors perform within the smaller area of the CST’s upstairs space, sometimes calling upon audience members to join in on the action and other times presenting the story with the cast members alone; either way it’s guaranteed to be a truly memorable performance.

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart runs September 26- October 14. Tickets are available here.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theater has been home to some pretty interesting productions over the years and if you’re into innovative, international and emotionally gripping theater, then you’re in for a real treat with The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. The play, which mixes music, song, fol